Exercise After Cancer Diagnosis Linked to Improved Survival Rates

Regular physical activity, even after a cancer diagnosis, is associated with a lower risk of cancer death and improved survival times, according to recent research. The benefits extend even to those who begin exercising after their diagnosis, and even light exercise can be impactful.

Study Findings

Researchers from the American Cancer Society followed 17,141 cancer survivors – those with bladder cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, ovarian cancer, and rectal cancer – for an average of 10.9 years. Participants self-reported their leisure-time physical activity levels through surveys.

The study revealed that physically active survivors experienced lower cancer mortality rates compared to those who were inactive. Specifically:

• Bladder cancer survivors saw a roughly 33% reduction in the risk of death.
• Endometrial cancer and lung cancer survivors experienced a 38% and 44% reduction in risk, respectively.
• Survivors of oral and rectal cancer who exercised more than twice the recommended amount had mortality rates lowered by approximately 61% and 43%, respectively.
• Even initiating regular exercise after a cancer diagnosis lowered the risk of death by 42% for lung cancer patients and 49% for rectal cancer patients.

Even Light Exercise is Beneficial

The research indicated that even low-intensity exercise, without causing excessive sweating, was associated with survival benefits. For bladder, endometrial, and lung cancer patients, survival times increased even with less than 150 minutes of exercise per week.

Study Demographics

The average age of study participants at the time of cancer diagnosis was 67 years classic. During the follow-up period, 4,872 participants died from cancer.

Expert Recommendations

Physical activity is widely recognized for its role in reducing cancer risk. Current recommendations suggest 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week for individuals with a history of cancer American Cancer Society.

Researchers note that while these recommendations are well-established for breast, prostate, and colon cancers, this study extends those benefits to other cancer types, including bladder, lung, and oral cancer. The study highlights that physical activity after diagnosis can be beneficial, even for those who were previously inactive.

Key Takeaways

• Regular exercise is linked to lower cancer mortality rates.
• Benefits are seen even with light to moderate exercise.
• Starting exercise after a cancer diagnosis can still improve outcomes.
• These findings extend the known benefits of exercise to a wider range of cancer types.

This study was published in the academic journal JAMA Network Open, a publication of the American Medical Association.